Beatha (completed #7 of the blood moon saga)

15

By the time we get home I’m exhausted but the doctor is waiting with a gurney, Luca helps him on and they take off to run tests and administer some pain meds. I text Nan to come heal him when she can and then I sink into Lucas embrace in the waiting room.

I immediately get paranoid as onlookers watch us, people whispering and staring with absolutely no shame.

“Ignore them baby”

“I can’t! They are being so damn rude and disrespectful”

I hide my head in the crook of his neck and force the tears back down and concentrate on Luca, I take in his sweet candy floss scent and let it relax me. His strong arms cradle me tightly and he sways me back and forth. A door opened and I stuck my head out to see the doctor.

“We have him fully sedated and on pain medication. He is completely stable but he needs rest. Lilly will be arriving in the middle of the night to heal him when she returns from your aunt's pack. Until then go home and get some rest you both look exhausted”

I go to protest but Luca shuts me down

“Thank you we will be back first thing to see him”

She nods and he leads me out of the hospital, everyone staring daggers at me like I’m some sort of criminal. I feel tears prick my eyes then realise it’s probably better if I get away from them all. I climb into the passenger seat and he squeezes my hand.

“We will talk to your parents tomorrow and find out what they are all looking at”

He starts the car and drives us home, to my surprise mum and dad are watching a movie on the sofa they stand when they see us, I run and pull them in for a hug.

“I’m glade you’re awake, are there rumours going around the pack again?”

Dad scratches the back of his neck, mum groans, grabbing her head and cursing as Luca pulls me into him, wrapping his arms around my waist and sitting on the sofa. I curl into a ball on his knee.

“Yes, apparently someone called amber has been saying that she overheard you and Luca talking about how you are going to make it look like Arthur was dying so you could take over the pack, I’m sorry I thought we would have more time before you returned but obviously not”

Mum falls back on the couch and heaves. Luca stiffens at the name and I look at him feeling for the bond

‘That son of a b***h, what is her game I’m so going to f*****g kill her’

I look at him and frown, he sighs and lifts me up into his arms.

“We better get to bed we will talk more in the morning”

We waved to them and left, he dropped me on the chair and pulled out 2 joints handing me one.

“Who is she?”

“We grew up with her, she is our age and we went to school with her. She's my pack. she always intruded on our fun, showing up wherever we went. She's so annoying and always was. Arthur was always fond of her and they we’re friends for a long time she honestly pissed me off constantly and I hated having her around but anyway one night”

He looked from me looking very guilty and directed his line of sight out to the water. I sucked on my joint, bracing myself for this next part.

“Well one thing led to another and we f****d her—“

“—I thought you didn’t like her?”

I snapped at him he smirked and shook his head

“I didn’t, never did but that’s not what s*x was about for me. In Fact every girl might as well be faceless, nameless because they meant nothing more than me releasing some frustrations, and honestly looking back I was lying to myself. I loved to share with Arthur I just couldn’t admit that to myself”

I nodded and sighed

“Go on”

I whisper to him, taking another drag in the hopes it will keep me calm.

“So we f****d her, this was after the Luna had died and Arthur was rejected. I didn’t even enjoy myself. I just couldn’t stand the girl so I basically closed my eyes and finished the job, Arthur didn’t seem to mind but after my dislike for her only turned to hate. She thought by us sleeping with her that we claimed her, I couldn’t be bothered with the niceties and I told her plain and simple that I hated her and to leave me alone, but Arthur is a lot kinder then me and he put up with her, they were never a thing and Arthur didn’t want a thing but he continued to let her stalk us but I was getting pissed of because she would show up everywhere we were. Arthur was beginning to get annoyed to and finally he told her to f**k of and it worked. Or so we thought.”

He groans rubbing his head then continued

“We started hearing rumours that we had found our Luna and that we were planning to swear her in. We shut them down but we couldn’t understand who was saying that s**t and honestly at that point I was livid, it was only 2 years after my mate had died and the thought of another woman in our bed, doing her job made me crazy. And I mean crazy. Then one day we were at the races and she arrived and walked straight up to us both in front of both packs with a grin on her face. She handed us an ultrasound, and a piece of paper saying she was pregnant and the baby was conceived around the same time we had f****d. Shocked isn’t even the right word to describe how I felt in that moment. Arthur told her to leave and we would contact her soon. I cried like a baby. I didn’t want a child and certainly not with that witch, Arthur felt the same. After a few days she landed at Arthur's house, the rumours had gotten worse and people were saying that she was having one of our babies and was going to become our Luna. She arrived with some sob story saying her parents found out and had kicked her out of the house for being pregnant. I knew there was something fishy going on but Arthur felt sorry for her and let her stay in one of the guest rooms in the packhouse. I left annoyed and ended up outside her parents house, I decided to bite the bullet and knock on the door. I was expecting them to punch me or something but instead they were so kind and invited me in, I asked them straight out if they had kicked her out for getting pregnant. I’ll never forget their faces. They were shocked that she would tell us that and angry because the real reason they kicked her out was because they found the stuff on the computer where she had ordered a fake ultrasound and forged the documents. They made her do a pregnancy test and it was negative so they kicked her out and told her not to come back until she had told the truth. Livid wasn’t even a word I could use to describe how f*****g furious I was. I went straight back to Arthur’s and told him he was pissed too but I was ready to kill her. Her father had followed me back and he begged me not to kill her. He said that she was sick and they would send her and get her help. Arthur agreed with them and I eventually gave in but I wanted to hear her say it. So we arrived at the packhouse and Somebody must have tipped her off because she had blood all over the bed and into the bathroom, completely covering her trousers with blood and she was crying saying she lost the baby. I noticed the razor covered in blood and showed it to her then her father walked in and her eyes widened. I told her to admit it was all lies and I put the razer to her throat. She gave in and told the truth, after that Arthur paid for her to go to the mental home a few packs over and she stayed there for a year when she came back she apologised and asked if she could live with her parents. I agreed because she actually for the first time sounded sincere and level headed. I haven’t seen much of her since and she’s stayed out of my way”

He looked at me, his nerves were obvious through our bond. But he had told me the truth, the whole truth and there was something comforting about the fact he never skimmed over it, he told me the entire story. I fell to my knees beside him on the floor and I kissed him softly.

“I love you. Thank you for telling me that”

He pulled away and ran his hand down the side of my face and smiled

“You're amazing, you know that right?”

I grinned and winked at him

“I know”

He lunges for me, kissing me like it’s the last time he will ever kiss me. He pushes me against the floor and I rip his shirt from his body. He growls and rips mine too, he pulls off my trousers and plants his lips back against mine. I moan wrapping my legs around his waist as he pushes inside me.

I throw my head back and cry out as he thrusts inside me, he watches my face as his hands grab my hips.

This isn’t us making love or even f*****g this is 2 people who love each other and who need each other.

It was like we were the only people in the world, our bond strengthening, I ran my hands over his chest and closed my eyes and savored the feeling of being complete. I pull him down and kiss him. He growls into my mouth then rolls so I’m on top of him.

His hands knead my breasts pulling on my n****e as I steady myself on his chest and I roll my hips as he thrusts into me.

He sits up and holds me in his arms helping me move as he kisses down my shoulder sucking the sensitive skin where his mark would be, sending another wave of moisture south. I cry out as my insides clamp around his hard length as he f***s me.

“f**k baby your so tight”

“And your sooo f*****g big”

I cry back grabbing his shoulders as my legs start to shake and tremble. His thighs clench under my ass and his d**k swells. I feel my canine protrude and I cry as I fight the urge to mark him. He pumps into me harder and faster as I suck on his skin, I run my teeth over the spot on his shoulder and he growls pushing my head against it.

Beatha is scraping at the edge of my sanity. She wants to claim him as ours, she wants the world to know that we are one and I can’t fight the urge any longer and I bite down, slicing through his flesh and muscle until I hit bone.

His grip on me becomes incredibly tight as he explodes inside me sending me right over the edge. I pull my teeth out and seal it with my tongue as he falls to the floor with me on his chest. His breaths are heavy and laboured as he holds me tight.

When I can breathe again I look up at him and I’m shocked to see tears run down his cheeks.

“Are you ok? I’m so sorry, should I not have marked you?”

He looks at me and smiles, grabbing my face in his hands and he pulls me to him, he kisses my lips softly and lays me in his arms cradling my small body in his big one.

“I thought after my mate died I’d never love again, I’m not sure how it’s possible but somehow I love you so much more than I ever loved her. I could never be me around her, I could never be honest without her getting mad and somehow you accept me for everything that I am, that I was and who I've become and I love you so damn much. It’s nothing but an honour to wear your mark on my shoulder”

I feel my own tears sting at my eyes as he places featherlight kisses all over my face kissing each tear away, when I finally find words my voice is shaky and full of emotion. Not because of what he said, but because the truth in it and the fact that I feel the same. The fact that even though I love Arthur so much I somehow love Luca more, and I know he is the reason I will survive this.

“We are 2 parts of 1, I will always accept you as you accept me”

He kisses me softly again, both of us with tears running down our faces. Both looking into each other’s eyes in our own personal bubble of love. Then a thought hits me and I sit up and turn to him feeling incredibly guilty

“What is it?”

“You, f**k I marked you. You're going to transition. I’m so f*****g stupid, I’m so sorry I shouldn’t have marked you”

He sits up frowning, taking my face in his hands. I close my eyes loving the feeling but guilt at what I’d done starts to eat away at me

“Ssssh baby whatever it is it’s ok, what do you mean transition”

I bite my lip and look at him.

“You will become like me, we are 2 parts of 1 so we need to be equal. Me marking you will make you transition into a tribred so we are equals”

He frowns and drops his hands

“And you don’t want me to be like you?”

It’s my turn to frown and I shake my head taking his hand in my own.

“Believe me I want you to be like me, I want us to be equal and I want you bulletproof so I won’t lose you but this should have been your decision to make. When you were ready for it, not a spare of the moment thing that just happened”

He rolls his eyes and shakes his head, lifting his hand and pointing to our mark.

“This means we are one, this means if I die you die and I never want that. I want to be bulletproof so you won’t die because I have an accident. I love you and if becoming a tribred means I can protect you then I’ll jump in with both feet. I wanted this mark so badly and now I've got it and I’m not going to let your guilt for not preparing me better ruin the moment. I love you and this mark.”

He kisses me, I kiss back, wrapping my hand in his hair and that’s what we do all night. Spend it in each other’s arms, savouring every moment we have together.

When morning comes I squint as the light from the sun shines into the room and burns my eyes. My phone is ringing loudly. I groan grabbing it of the dresser and answer without looking at the caller I’d

“What”

I groan sleepy.

“Now is that really a way to say good morning to your mate”

I sit up and smile

“You're awake? How are you?”

“Bored. Will you come lift me please”

“I’ll be there in 10 just let me down a pot of coffee first”

He chuckles down the phone

“No problem. Love you”

“Love you too”

I hang up and roll to see Luca is still passed out peacefully, I decide to let him sleep and I throw on his shirt and some sweats. I pull converse on my feet and grab a brush pulling it through my messy bed head hair and putting it in a bun on the top of my head.

I head to the kitchen and I’m surprised to see Fay and Arden, they grin when they see me and pull me into a hug.

“Hey sis how are you?”

I grin

“Good. Look at you, you have a bump”

I gasp, grabbing Fays stomach, something inside does a little flip and hits my hand making me jump in surprise shock. Fay giggles and rubs her bump lovenly

“She’s a little warrior Princess already kicking ass aren't you baby”

She says to her bump. I can’t help but grin. I completely love the fact it’s a girl and we will have a girl alpha running the pack some day.

I grab some coffee and fill 3 cups and sit down with them both.

“So what’s up?”

I ask them Arden grabs my hand and squeezes it.

“Well we know Arthur took ill, and then we heard about the rumours and we haven’t seen you since the wedding and we missed you plus we just wanted to be here for you”

“You want to go to the hospital and lift Arthur for me, my eyes feel like sandpaper”

Arden stands up and kisses Fay on the cheek, I sigh, going to the food and filling some plates as Arden leaves to lift Arthur.

“So how are you? Really?”

Fay asks me stealing a real cup of coffee now that Ardens is out of the way. I giggle filling her cup up full.

“I’m okish, iv kind of just been all over the place I’m probably a nightmare to live with—“

“—- you are the farthest thing from a nightmare”

Luca comes into the kitchen, he lifts me onto his knee and kisses my cheek.

“Morning”

I turn and kiss his lips and take a sniff of his sweet scent.

“Morning”

He kisses my shoulder and rests his head in the crook of my neck and he holds me tightly.

“Well either way I think it would be perfectly normal to be all over the place your both dealing with a lot”

I nudge my sister and grin

“Look at you Luna, all confident and wise”

She snorts and laughs shaking her head

“Believe me that is not the case. I’m still a wreck but I’m getting there”

I squeeze her hand and smile at her

“You will get there, Your the bravest person I have ever met”

Not long after Arthur arrives, he looks weak but happy.

“How do you feel?”

“I feel like I need to smoke”

He smiles, kissing me then walks out onto the deck, he lays on the day bed and smokes in silence. I excuse myself and join him, I lay on the bed beside him and rest my head on his chest. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses my forehead.

“Are you ok?”

I whisper to him, heating my skin to warm him up. He shivers then sighs.

“When I die I want to be placed on a boat and pushed out into the water and set on fire”

I gasp and sit up looking at him

“Why are you saying that?”

He grabs the side of my face and wipes a stray tear that fell from my eyes. He gives me a sympathetic smile

“Because like it or not we are going to have to face facts. I’m going and I need you to know how I want to be honoured”

I wipe my tear, my heart starts to thump painfully in my chest, I bring my knees to my face and try to take deep breaths. My heart starts to crumble and I look up at him.

“I won’t be able to keep your ashes”

I whisper through heavy tears. He smiles and points to the lake.

“This will be my resting place, my ashes will be here forever. When I die you will scream and take my soul and my body will return to ash and surround you forever in the lake. You can do this love I know you can”

I sob into my hands. I can’t handle the fact that soon I won’t see him everyday.

“But that means I’ll not be able to wake up to your face. I can’t believe your dying”

He pulls me into his chest and rubs my hair as I sob into his chest in a ball overwhelmed with the thought

“I know baby but it’s going to be ok. You have Luca”

I cry harder. I do have Luca but Luca isn’t Arthur. My connection may be stronger with Luca but I still love and adore Arthur in his own way. He is my mate and I love him and I can’t bare the thought of living without him.